Packers Morning Buzz: Green Bay 'never in it' for Antonio Brown

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with the conflicting reports regarding the Packers and Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. The NFL Network''s Ian Rapoport reported late Thursday that the Buffalo Bills were closing in on a deal to acquire the disgruntled star, only to follow up hours later with word that the deal was off:

From @gmfb: The #Bills neared a trade last night for WR Antonio Brown, who would not commit to showing up in Buffalo. The organization did speak with agent Drew Rosenhaus. This morning, Buffalo says they are out, amid uncertainty. Steelers are square one again. pic.twitter.com/d4suLfaVWP

Packers running back Aaron Jones is keeping busy this offseason being interviewed by multiple national outlets. In a Q&A on NFL.com (conducted March 1), Jones said of Green Bay possibly trading for Antonio Brown: "Defenses wouldn't be able to double Davante (Adams). That said, we did have three up-and-coming rookie receivers last year, along with Geronimo Allison, who got hurt this past year, so I feel like we have a lot in them."

Told that Brown's addition would give the Packers another playmaker, Jones replied, "The more playmakers the merrier. That's what they do in the NBA."

Marc Sessler of NFL.com assesses the market for free-agent running back Le'Veon Bell and calculates each team's needs at Bell's position.

The Packers fall in the "Stay the Course" category, with this comment:

Mike McCarthy's successor, Matt LaFleur, told combine reporters that a "committee approach" is the favored way forward with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. The message here is that a new coach (understandably) has no designs on calling this race in March. Jones oozed workhorse potential for stretches and memorably scattered the Dolphins for 145 yards and two scores in a November rout. Williams offers a less-flashy skill set, but it was Jones who was dinged in Indy by general manager Brian Gutekunst for iffy conditioning. It's time for someone to win over this fresh-faced coaching staff.

He has been a productive player for the Packers -- and GM Brian Gutekunst said last week at the combine that he thinks Matthews still can be that -- but he's no longer a dominant pass-rusher off the edge. So what's his value? That's the hard part, which is why the Packers probably will let him test the market before they make an offer. Same thing for receiver Randall Cobb, who's coming off an injury-filled season as he heads into free agency.

Prediction: Chances are someone will make Matthews an offer richer than anything the Packers will pay, and he'll be gone.

And finally ... Peter Bukowski of Acme Packing Co. writes about what the glut of available safeties means for the Packers: